Psiitacus festivus. - Auctorum.

Psittacus festivus, Linn. - Lath, etc. - Wagler, Mon. Psitt. in Abhand. etc. p. 580. - Le Perroquet Tahua de Cay.

Buff. Pl Enl. 480. - Perroquet Tavoua, Le Vaill pl. 129.

Festive Parrot, Lath. Syn. i. p. 298. 102.

We have illustrated the American group of Parrots by a figure of the Festive Parrot, which possesses all the typical characteristics of the genus. It is a native of South America, inhabiting Guiana, Cayenne, and the Brazils, particularly the banks of the river Amazons, and affects the forests, where it procures a constant supply of food in the various seeds and kernels of fruits. It is docile, and easily tamed, and, being of an imitative disposition, readily learns to pronounce words and sentences with great clearness and precision. In size, it exceeds the common Amazons Parrot, measuring between 15 and 16 inches in extreme length. The bill is of a pale flesh colour, strong, and with the upper mandible distinctly toothed. The nostrils are large and open, placed in the cere at the base of the bill. The narrow frontal band ana eye-streak are deep red, with a purplish tinge. Above and behind the eyes, the feathers are pale azure-blue. The lower back and rump are deep vermilion-red, the greater quills and secondaries have their outer webs of a deep blue, the interior webs being greenish-black. The remainder of the plumage of the upper and under parts of the body is green. The tail is short, being about four inches in length, nearly even at the end, the outmost feather on each side, with its exterior web, margined with blue; the rest are green, with a small spot of pale red near their bases, except the two intermediate feathers, which are wholly green. The legs are stout, and of a bluish-grey or leaden colour.

Plate IX. Psittacus Festivus Festive Parrot.

E. Lear del Lizars sc.